Dissolution rates of earthworm-secreted calcium carbonate

Lambkin, D. C., Canti, M. G., Piearce, T. G. and Hodson, M. E. (2011) Dissolution rates of earthworm-secreted calcium carbonate. Applied Geochemistry, 26 (Supplement). S67-S69. ISSN 0883-2927 doi: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.03.031

Abstract/Summary

The dissolution of CaCO3 granules secreted by earthworms in soil leaching columns was governed by soil pH and exchange sites available for Ca. Results indicate that granules could last for significant periods of time in soils and that, therefore, granules could be an important source of soil calcite.